Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Sunday, described the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests as two of the biggest tests of his administration, saying both crises shaped his leadership and reinforced the importance of resilience, wise counsel and calm decision-making.
He spoke at the 2026 undergraduate convocation ceremony of Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, where he delivered the convocation lecture titled, “Breaking New Ground: Faith, Grit and the Work of New Beginnings.”
Sanwo-Olu urged the graduating NOVA Class of 2026 to embrace uncertainty, learn from failure and remain steadfast in pursuing their goals.
Reflecting on his assumption of office in 2019, the governor said he had barely settled into the role before the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I had barely settled down as Governor when, in my ninth month in office, the world changed dramatically. Nine months is what it takes for a woman to carry and deliver a baby. In this case, what life delivered to me as Governor was COVID-19,” he said.
Describing the pandemic as an unprecedented global health emergency, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had to build a comprehensive response system amid global shortages of medical supplies and equipment.
“We had to build a massive response system in the face of global inequities in the availability of everything from face masks to test kits to ventilators. We had to strengthen our public health systems… Not surprisingly, Lagos turned out to be the Nigerian epicentre of the pandemic.”
The governor said the establishment of the state’s COVID War Room, which he led with the support of scientists and technical experts, demonstrated the importance of relying on evidence and expert advice in governance.
“What I can tell you from that experience is that seeking and depending on wise counsel in life is very important. We should never assume that we know enough, or that we are able, by ourselves, to plot our path through life,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that while COVID-19 was the defining challenge of his first year in office, an even more difficult test emerged during his second year with the #EndSARS protests.
“If I thought COVID was the only baptism of fire awaiting me as Governor, I was very mistaken. COVID was merely the big test of my first year in office. A second big test was coming, in year two. It showed up in the form of the violent #EndSARS protests,” he said.
According to him, the unrest resulted in extensive destruction across Lagos.
“We endured a near-total breakdown of law and order that hurt individuals, businesses and government alike,” he said, adding that billions of naira worth of public assets, including the state’s forensic centre and judicial facilities containing irreplaceable records, were destroyed.
The governor said the twin crises taught him that people often have little control over the challenges life presents but can determine how they respond.
He said: “The lesson here is that we do not often get to choose what life sends our way — our choice lies primarily in how we respond and adapt.”
Sanwo-Olu encouraged the graduating students to accept uncertainty as a constant feature of life, noting that every new stage of personal and professional development comes with its own anxieties.
“You do not need absolute clarity or certainty to take the next step. More important is faith.”
He also urged the graduates not to fear failure.
“Get used to trying and failing. Life rewards, most of all, the people who rise fastest after failing—not those who wallow in self-pity and a defeatist mindset.”
The governor revealed that he experienced several business failures after graduating from the University of Lagos, saying those setbacks eventually became valuable learning experiences.
Addressing innovation and governance, Sanwo-Olu advised young Nigerians to present practical, evidence-based solutions to public problems rather than mere ideas.
He said innovation must be institutionalised through legal frameworks, dedicated funding and measurable outcomes if it is to outlive political administrations.
The governor also defended the economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying they were laying the foundation for sustainable national growth despite the short-term pains.
“I will not stand here and tell you these reforms have been painless, or that they are finished. But they rest on the same principle I have been describing to you: that new ground is broken by those willing to act on a problem everyone privately agrees is real, but which convention had made too costly to touch.”
Sanwo-Olu further urged the graduates to reject what he described as the growing tendency to celebrate popularity over competence.
“The internet has recently been abuzz with debate about a so-called ‘Olodo Uprising’… Make up your mind today that you will never glorify ignorance or a lack of curiosity,” he told the granduands.
He advised them to value learning, integrity and hard work above social media fame.